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The Red River National Wildlife Refuge isn’t nearly the “hidden secret” it was just three years ago before the Visitors’ Center at the headquarters unit was constructed and the Arthur Teague Extension was completed.

Since then, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-operated refuge has blossomed into a jewel serving Bossier City and Shreveport residents in a variety of ways.

“Our primary purpose is to provide habitat for wildlife, but we also conduct a number of educational programs for children and adults throughout the year,” said USFWS ranger Terri Jacobson. “The fact that our headquarters unit is extremely close to an urban area makes us much more accessible for school groups.”

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Red River Refuge ranger Terri Jacobson talks about what makes the refuge in Bossier City unique.

Nearly 5,000 people participated in environmental and interpretative programs at the refuge in 2015 with visitors coming from all 50 states and at least a dozen foreign countries.

“Our numbers keep growing annually and people are still discovering us,” Jacobson said. “We expect them to continue rising and there will probably come a point in the future where we may have to turn some groups away.”

The Red River Refuge consists of four tracts stretching along the Red River from Bossier City to Cloutierville with the Headquarters Unit the smallest at 652 acres starting just south of the Jimmie Davis Bridge. In October 2000, the RRNWR Act was signed into law authorizing up to 50,000 acres for the northwest Louisiana system as funds are available. The refuge currently has 15,022 acres.

In addition to the visitors’ center, which includes offices for the rangers, a store, operated by the Friends of the Red River Refuge, a large meeting room and displays, Lake Caroline is one of the highlights of the Bossier site. It serves as a backdrop for the center and as a harborage for wintering waterfowl. Fishing is allowed for much of the year with non-motorized boats and there is a free boat ramp. Caroline is used for canoeing outings during special events at the refuge.

A wide variety of animals call the four tracts home and the rangers constantly seek ways to create more substantial habitat for the abundant white-tail deer, raccoon, possum, skunk, river otter, beaver, mink, nutria, fox, coyote and bobcats.

More than 200 species of Neotropical migratory birds use the RRNWR throughout the year due to the habitat. That makes the refuge a great spot for birding enthusiasts who want to capture an unusual species with their camera.

“Our primary purpose is to provide for the restoration and conservation of native plant and animal communities within the Red River Basin, provide habitat for migratory birds and to provide technical assistance to private land owners,” Jacobson said. “The wildlife are our primary purpose and that’s what makes us different from National Historic Sites.”

The refuge is also about educating children, as well as making adults aware of the national refuge system throughout the country. Open during daylight hours, the Headquarters Unit has more than five miles of walking trails, a boat launch, fishing pier, two RV pads for resident volunteers and a Nature Discovery Play Area for children that is operational but still under construction.

“In 2015 we led five camps for kids and co-led one Girl Scout camp. Nearly 200 children (ages 5 to 15) attended summer camps at the refuge,” Jacobson said. “Sign-up for our 2016 Camps starts April 1.”

Among the programs conducted at the site in 2015 were “Raptors” with Francie Forrester, “Snakes” with Steven Kennedy and Stacy Doolittle, “Turtles” with Chuck Brooks, “Whooping Cranes” with Dr. Liz Smith, “Wild Game Calling” with Kelly Haydel, “Swamp Day” with Amy and Kelby Ouchley and “Owl Prowl” with Larry Raymond.

More than 750 visitors attended the Fall Wildlife Celebration in October with 89 partners or volunteers assisting with the hands-on booths. Children could touch a reptile, build-a-bear den or construct a variety of art projects. And it was entirely free.

Twitter: @JimmyWatson6

By the numbers

4: Number of tracts in the refuge

5: Miles of hiking trails in the refuge

200: Kids attending 2015 summer camps at the refuge

550: Number of national wildlife refuges

5,000: People participating in 2015 educational programs at the refuge

The Headquarter Unit's outdoor spaces are open to the public from sunrise to sunset seven days a week. A list of regulations for refuge use is available in kiosks all around the refuge and in the breezeway at the Visitor Center.

The Visitor Center is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday and on selected weekends.

The Nature Store in the Visitor Center is currently open when trained volunteers are available, but is almost always open on Saturdays, and on Sunday, Tuesday and Friday afternoons. Call (318) 742-1219 (ext. 111) to confirm hours before planning to visit the exhibits and the store.